Kyrgyzstan Extradites Journalist Wanted By Turkey For Terror Links

BISHKEK -- A Turkish journalist wanted on suspicion of terrorist links has been extradited to Turkey from Kyrgyzstan, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

Talant Konokbaev, a spokesman for the Prosecutor-General's Office, told RFE/RL that Ali Osman Zor was extradited on August 3.

Zor, 43, was detained by Kyrgyz police in Bishkek on May 2. Turkish officials suspect him of involvement in a terrorist group linked to Al-Qaeda that wants to create an Islamic caliphate in the Middle East.

Last month, Kyrgyzstan's Labor and Migration Ministry rejected as without basis the arguments put forward by Zor and his lawyers in support of his claim to refugee status.

Zor's lawyers said Turkey's case against him was politically motivated.

Kyrgyz human rights activists had called on the authorities not to extradite him to Turkey.

Read more in Kyrgyz here
http://www.azattyk.org/archive/ky-news-domestic/20110811/828/390.html?id=24293239